Archbishop Jose Gomez on the HHS Mandate - 1 of 2

Archbishop Jose Gomez on the HHS Mandate – 1 of 2
# 2 will posted on this blog – www.cinopsbegoneblogspot.com – Saturday, February 11, 2012

The federal government’s new mandate – requiring Catholic charities, schools, universities and hospitals to supply employees with health insurance that covers birth control, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs – has become maybe the most controversial issue of the day.

I’ve been inspired by the unified reaction from our Catholic community. The bishops of almost every diocese in the country have spoken out. So have our largest Catholic institutions. Many individual Catholics – of every political opinion – have united in opposition.

Other religious groups and many other Americans have also joined the protest – because this new mandate, of course, affects every employer in America. As this debate continues, it is important to remember that the Catholic Church did not choose this conflict.

The Church wants to be a partner with our neighbors and our government in building a more just and peaceful society – a society more worthy of the dignity of the human person who is the image of God. The Church’s mission in our society is to teach, heal and to care for others; to pray and lead our neighbors to God.

Our freedom to carry out our mission is totally threatened by this mandate. But we are not just protecting our own parochial interests. As I have said, the issues at stake go far beyond the morality of contraception. ‘This government mandate threatens the basic character of our society and puts every Americans freedom at risk.’ America was founded to be a diverse society with many layers of institutions and affiliations.

America’s founders understood that human life is more than politics or economics. They created structures of government and an economic system intended to promote individual liberty. They also created a space of freedom in which a rich “civil society” could grow – all sorts of independent churches and religions, neighborhood groups, clubs, volunteer organizations, trade unions, leagues, charities, foundations and more.

“In the founders’ vision of civil society, churches and religious agencies held a special place. They believed that religion was essential for democracy to flourish because religion instills the values and virtues people need for self government.” That is why the First Amendment protects churches and individuals from the government meddling in what they believe, or in how they express and live out those beliefs. That’s also why the government has always felt comfortable providing funding for Church charities and ministries that serve the common good of all Americans.

What is happening in recent decades is that government at all levels has been exerting greater influence in almost every area of American life. In the process, non-governmental institutions are being crowded out of our public life. Civil society is shrinking and the influence of civic associations in our lives is getting weaker. The rights and freedoms of churches are increasingly restricted by court orders and government policies. ‘Religious freedom is now reduced to the freedom to pray and to go to church.’…

# 2 will be posted on the website – cinops be gone or www.cinopsbegoneblogspot.com